Mechanism for operating derailing-switches and semaphores



(No Model.) W. GRAVIT.

MEGHANISM FOR OPERATING DBRAILING SWITGHES AND SEMAPHORES.

No. 888,947. PatentedJune 5, 1888.

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UNITED STATES `PATInvT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GRAVIT, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING DERAiLlNG-SWITCHES AND SEMAPHORES.

SPECIFICATION forming pari'. of Letters Patent No. 383,947, dated June5, 1888.

Application filed February 24, ISES. Serial No. 265,129.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GRAvIr, a citizen of the United States,residingin Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for OperatingDerailing Switches and Sernaphorcs, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to mechanism for operating the derailing-switchesand sem aphores employedat railroad-junctions; and my object therein hasbeen to devise a single apparatus which, while it is connected to andcontrols the switches and sernaphores of both the crossing lines ofrailroad, is however capable of moving the switches and semaphores ofone road without disturbing those of the other. To this end I mount upona rotatable vertical shaft a cam-wheel, of the description hereinafterset forth,for operating the switch-connections of both lines, and twoloose pulleys, each connected to the semaphores of one of the lines andeach separably operable by an arm fixed to the shaft according to thedirection in which the latter is turned.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation, partly in scctiomoftheactuating parts ofmyinvention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of theapparatus, showing` the connections to the Various switches andsemaphores. Fig. 3 is a plan View.

In said drawings, A represents the rotatable shaft stepped at its bottomin the bearing a and at its top in a hollow or other suitable standard,B. Ordinarily the bearing a will be located below ground and thestandard B in an elevated observatory or tower. Said shaft is turned bythe operator through the medium of lever C, and is located in its threepositions by the removable pin c, passing through the lever into theopenings d d di in the top plate, D, of the standard B. At the lower endthe shaft carries the canrwheel E. This cam-wheel is provided with aportion, e, concentric with its axis, and at either end of suchconcentric portion with a hook, F, and inward slot, f. Therod-connections to the derailing-switches are shown at G and H, and eachsupposedly extends to switches located at either side of the junction.Each rod is also provided with an arm, J or K, carrying (No model.)

an anti-friction pulley, t', in constant contact with the periphery ofthe camwheel. When the operator turns his lever in the direction of theupper arrow, Fig. 3, the cam-wheel will be turned to the left, when thehook F will engage with the arm J. The roller of the latter is nowcompelled to enter the slotf, with the result that said arm and its rodGare carried along to the right by the carnhook a snicient distance toclose the switches on the line to which the rod Gr belongs. When thisposition is reached, the operators lever is locked in the opening d. Oneroad is thus opened to travel; but it will be noticed that the switchesof the other road have not been disturbed, tne arm K being all the timein contact with the concentric part of the camwheel. As soon as thetrain for which the switches were closed has passed the operator moveshis lever back to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the cam-wheel inthis return movement carries the arm J and the rod G back to their firstposition, again blocking the road.

The operation is the same with the other road and its switch-actuatingarm K and rod H, except that the shaft is turned in the oppositedirection when they are to be actuated.

The chains extending to t-he semaphores are shown at L M and N O, thetwo former being attached to the upper pulley, P, and the two lattertothe pulley Q. Both said pulleys are loosely mounted on shaft A and bothare operated by the arm R, rigidly secured to the shaft A, in connectionwith the studs p and qthat is to say, when the shaft is moved in onedirection from block the arm engages the stud belonging to the pulley Pand turns the latter, drawing upon the chains L and M. If the shaft beturned in the other direction from block, the arm will engage stud g andturn pulley Q. thereby drawing on chains N and O. The semaphores, beingautomatic in returning to their normal positions, operate to turn thepulleys back when the shaft is moved to the blocking position. Theblocked position of the arm and studs is illustrated at Fig. 2 by thebroken lines, the position being changed in Fig. l for convenience andclearness of illustration.

It will be noticed from the construction de- IOO scribed that while theoperator is able to open either one of the lines crossing at junction bya single movement of his lever, suclrmovement closing the switches andchanging the signals from danger to open; 7 and while he is able by thereturn movement of his lever to open the switches and change back thesignal to d'angelg77 yet during all the time either line is open theother line is blocked;

'its return movement, substantially as set forth.

3. 'The combination, with the derailingswitches of crossingrailroad-lines, of a single cam-wheel having the hooks F, the switchesbeing mechanically connected tothe wheel by the rods and arms,substantially as specied.

4. The combination, with the derailingswitches and semaphorcs ofcrossing railroadlines, of a single shaft, a cam-wheel for operating theswitches, and pulleys for operating the semaphores, said wheel andpulleys being all mounted upon said shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for operating derailingswitches, the shaft A and thecam-wheel having a concentric portion and the hooks F, in combinationwith the arms J and K, in contact with said wheel, and the rods G and H,extending to the switches, substantially as specified. 'Y

6. In apparatus for operating derailingswitches and semaphorcs, thecam-wheel, the Y pulleys l? and Q, having studs p and q, and the arm R,all combined and operating substantially as specified.

7. In apparatusV for operating derailingswitches and semaphores, theshaft A and the operators lever, the latter having the three positionsdescribed, in combination with the D cam and pulleys on said shaft andthe mechanical connections to the switches and semaphores, substantiallyas set forth.

VILLIAM GRAVIT.

`Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, R. H. MUNDAY.

